Wheelie Favorite Things – Edition 1

Welcome to the first installment of our Wheelie Favorite Things. Each month we’ll be profiling the best five things – products, places, pop culture and whatever else we can think of – for wheelchair-users.

Wheel Comfort: A brilliant invention created by Ethan Ruby, a paraplegic from NYC, Wheel Comfort in an inexpensive and easy add-on every wheelchair-user needs. This cushy footrest topper comes with sticky tape, allowing it to be put right on top of your current footrest, and it’s designed to protect your skin so you can go wheeling barefoot without worries thanks it’s over abundance of cushiness.

LOVE this idea! I can’t tell you how many times my bare feet have dangerously slipped off my footrest. This padded footrest is made from a lightweight foam and a two-piece version is also available (for those with two separate foot rests). Prices range from $54 – $64 depending on the size you meed.

Fashion blog ‘Manufactured 1987:’ A blog created by disabled fashion blogger Jillian Mercado, Manufactured 1987 follows her fashion adventures as she interns and works in the fashion world in NYC. She broke out of obscurity a couple of weeks ago thanks to an article The Daily Beast did on her (profiling her as she attended New York’s fashion Week). Jillian was born with Cerebral Palsy and uses a power chair to get around.

The Sessions: Released last fall (after a rousing success at the Sundance Movie Festival) The Sessions is a film starring Helen Hunt and John Hawkes, documenting the true-life story of Mark O’Brien, a man with polio (and uses an iron lung) who loses his virginity to a sex surrogate at age 38. He ends up falling in love with her and this lighthearted film is a fun look at the sexual needs of all people of different abilities. Helen has even been nominated for a Supporting Actress Oscar for her role.

Foldable wheels: Still a demo but still an exciting invention, foldable wheels have been created by a design team at the Royal College of Art in the UK, and this genius invention is the ultimate space-saver for wheelers that travel a lot, use a car with minimal interior space, or just think the design is cool. These wheels are as sturdy as any other wheel, and they’ve created a bicycle-version as well. Check out this impressive creation (http://www.folding-wheels.com)

Team Hot Wheelz: A hip-hop dance team is unlike any other dance team on the planet, Team Hot Wheelz is comprised of six dancers, all who use wheelchairs (they also have a couple able-bodied members). Founded by Cheslie Hill from Push Girls last year (who was a dancer before her injury), Team Hot Wheelz is a dream manifested into a reality for her, and Ali Stroker (a paraplegic and singer from The Glee Project) is also a member of the team. They’re based in California and perform at the Abilities Expo (at its stops all over the country) and at high schools. http://walkandrollfoundation.weebly.com/team-hotwheelz.html

Deborah is a Speaker, Disability Inclusion Consultant, Entrepreneur, Writer and Business Owner of Wheelchair Lifestyle Enterprise Push Living Inc.

She was a Former Dancer, Accident Survivor (C 6-7 Spinal Cord Injury resulting in incomplete Quadriplegia 1985), College grad (BBA Finance 1991 U of Miami), with a background in Sales and Marketing and Non Profit Development and Management.

She is now embarked on new path creating a market for Disability Inclusive Stock Images with the creation of PUSHlivingPhotos.com and publishing an online enterprise: PushLiving.com. The mission is to create Inclusion for people with disabilities through stock images for advertising, marketing and editorial uses, providing accessible properties for travel, swap or purchase, publishing an online magazine for improved health and well-being, providing information and opportunities for Accessible Travel, and operating an online store with products that improve lives.

She is most passionate about building a network of people with disabilities who are empowering, supporting and creating a more inclusive world. Personally, she is a mother of two beautiful, wise and exceptionally bright young women, and residing in South Florida.